I wanted fame. Sometimes I still do. My first dream of the spotlight was wanting to be an actress.
Oh, how I wanted to star in some heart-rending movie!
I lingered on the thought, planning my strategies and begging God to let me act. As I got older, that dream faded, only to be replaced by other quests for fame. I wanted to write a national best seller that would sweep the nation! I would get asked to speak and do interviews! I would be famous!
So I sat down to write that earth-shattering manuscript, and guess what? I didn’t make it very far. “God, don’t you want me to use my writing talents to show Your truth to the world??”
Next I wanted to be on the front of the pro-life movement, spearheading ideas, and leading marches. “God, don’t you want me to save innocent lives?” I wanted the accolades, the approval, the admiration, the attention of everyone. I wanted people to look at me.
I wanted to do BIG things for God.
Scrubbing bathrooms at home was not on my bucket list. All my plans and lofty dreams of fame have never materialized (at least not yet), but through it all God was and still is teaching me something far greater.
One Saturday morning I was doing my weekly ritual of cleaning the bathroom, and I was complaining to God about how I still hadn’t done anything “big” for Him. I hadn’t moved to the status of “world-changer.” I wasn’t a household name, and I certainly wasn’t on the cover of any New York Times best sellers. But then the thought came to me, cutting through all the noise, “What if for the rest of your life, all you do is clean bathrooms?”
It came after a period of time where God had been showing me that the Christian life is about service, not self.
I had been meditating on the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. It was the Last Supper, and they had just finished eating dinner together. Let’s take a look:
“He (Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.” John 13:4-5
Jesus, the Messiah, THE Chosen One, THE Son of God, God Incarnate, left the splendor of heaven to….wash the disgusting feet of His friends?!
The God of the Universe came to earth and served. Period. Now, fame and respect were rightfully His. All the way. 100%. He deserved headlines and accolades, applause, and awards. And yet Christ came to minister to the weakest, poorest, and most helpless. He healed their diseases, spoke words of love, and most importantly, rescued their souls. He dined with the lowest and the least. He knelt down and gently washed the dusty, dirty feet of those He loved.
If Christ is our example, what should we, as Christian girls, be doing? Seeking the fame of the world, or seeking out those who need help? Promoting ourselves or promoting our Savior?
I was and still am humbled by my Lord’s example.
If I never star in a movie, if I never write that bestseller, if I never get a TV interview, it’s ok. Because you know, true and lasting joy is found in service. Not that wanting any of those things is bad in and of itself. Good movies and books have been a tremendous blessing in my life! And if God has given you the talents and the opportunity to be in the public eye, it is an amazing and important way to serve. But if all I seek after is a name for myself, and if I take my eyes off of the One Who died for me, and place them on my plans or dreams, I will fall short every time.
He has called us to serve.
To be His hands and feet to a lost and dying world that desperately needs the love of Christ. By serving in the name of Jesus, we make Him famous. And isn’t that what we want? So the watching world can see the Savior in our actions? I love this quote by Martin Luther King Jr:
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve… You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”
I still struggle with the desire to be famous and applauded, and might struggle with it all my life. But you know, God has a plan that is WAY bigger and FAR greater than my little wishes. He has a plan for your life that is far greater than anything you could ever imagine if you will only trust Him. He is God and He is faithful.
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” Isaiah 64:4
Let’s make this practical:
Have you ever had dreams of doing something great or being someone famous? Do you love the spotlight and the attention of the world and those around you?
In what areas can you serve those around you right now? (for example, at a local pregnancy center, at your church, and in your home…)
Have you struggled with letting God have control of your life and future?
Thank you Anna Hartlaub for writing this post! If you are interested in guest posting for Girl Defined, contact us at [email protected]
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